DrWeb<p><strong>When silence speaks volumes – Michael S. Schmidt – The New York Times</strong></p><blockquote><p><strong>When silence speaks volumes</strong></p><p>By Michael S. Schmidt</p><p>This week, my colleague Eileen Sullivan and I reported that the Secret Service took the extraordinary step in May of surveilling the former F.B.I. director James Comey, a day after he posted a photo that President Trump’s allies claimed contained an assassination threat.</p><p>The story raised questions about whether Comey was tailed not because he was a legitimate threat but as part of a retribution campaign Trump has promised to wage against those he sees as his enemies.</p><p>To nail down the story, we had to do one of the most challenging tasks we face as reporters: pry loose details from the inside of a federal investigation.</p><p>But there was also something unexpectedly difficult about that story, compared with similar stories I’ve reported over 20 years at The New York Times. Some of the people we’ve previously called on to provide outside expertise refused to speak with us this time.</p><p>Tonight, I’m going to take you behind the scenes of our reporting, and explain why the speed bump we hit may be a sign of something more significant.</p><p><strong>A chill in Washington<br></strong><br>When we write a story like this, we reach out to experts who can put what we are writing about in context. Drawing on their work experience or academic expertise, they can help us — and our readers — understand whether and why an incident we are covering is unusual, or which laws might apply to it.</p><p>These individuals are often more than willing to share what they know. Being publicly identified as an expert can bolster someone’s professional standing.</p><p>But in this case, people we had quoted previously about important matters related to Trump, refused to speak with me about Comey.</p><p>This appeared to be the latest development in what my colleague Elisabeth Bumiller described in March as “a chill spreading over political debate in Washington and beyond.” It reflects a growing reluctance to speak publicly that my colleagues and I have noticed this year from voters, federal employees and many others.</p><p>It’s not the kind of thing that would usually make headlines because, after all, we’re talking about people not talking. But it’s worth remarking upon as we watch the culture in Washington change before our eyes.</p><p><strong>An escalating campaign of retribution</strong></p><p>I’ve spent much of the past eight and a half years covering Trump’s retribution campaigns. During his first term, he tried, both privately and publicly, to pressure the Justice Department, the F.B.I. and the I.R.S. to investigate his enemies. He sometimes succeeded.</p><p>In Trump’s second term, those efforts have been more sophisticated and more wide-ranging. He has pulled security details from or opened investigations into former officials he does not like, while turning the powers of the federal government against institutions that were once seen as above the fray, like universities and law firms.</p><p>The administration’s attacks on Harvard University and the law firm Paul, Weiss have sent a lasting message to professors and lawyers wanting to criticize the administration: Your school could be stripped of critical federal funding or your firm could be hit with a potentially crippling executive order that would make it really difficult to represent your clients. On top of that, Trump’s supporters have trolled and, at times, harassed or even swatted those who have opposed the president.</p><p>The reluctance that we’ve seen suggests that even people not yet within the administration’s direct sightlines are becoming worried about speaking freely.</p><p><strong>New fears</strong></p><p>One of my first calls was to a well-respected former federal prosecutor who works at a large law firm and has been quoted about matters related to Trump before. I hoped he would be able to tell me whether or not it was unusual for the Secret Service to deploy invasive surveillance tactics on someone like Comey. He told me that he was interested in commenting for our article. But shortly thereafter, he called to say that his firm did not want him to be quoted on the sensitive topic of Comey.</p><p>Speaking to me later on the condition of anonymity, he said that it was not worth the potential hassle to his law firm for him to opine on something related to Trump. The climate now, he said, is very different from what it was during Trump’s first term, or when Trump was out of office and facing four indictments.</p><p>The next legal expert I consulted ultimately refused to be quoted, too.</p><p>Finally, I reached Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney and a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, who argued that the surveillance of Comey was deeply unusual.</p><p>Today, she told me that she thought it was worth saying so.</p><p>“As a former U.S. attorney, I feel a duty to speak out about violations of D.O.J. norms. As a professor, I have the freedom to speak candidly in a way that perhaps lawyers in law firms or private companies cannot,” McQuade said.</p><p>It can be hard to show the tangible effects of a vengeful government, particularly because concerns about retribution often spur people not to do something they normally would. But the quiet in Washington is noticeable, and meaningful. Silence, particularly around something fairly innocuous like explaining the law, reflects a level of fear that feels new.</p><p>This is not something that I saw during the first Trump administration, when much of the country seemed to be lining up to take on Trump or opine about what he was doing.</p><p>In a small way, the entire experience showed how things have changed.</p><p>Source Links: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/us/politics/trump-retribution.html?searchResultPosition=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/us/politics/trump-retribution.html</a></p></blockquote> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/america/" target="_blank">#America</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/donald-trump/" target="_blank">#DonaldTrump</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/health/" target="_blank">#Health</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/history/" target="_blank">#History</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/journalism/" target="_blank">#Journalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/libraries/" target="_blank">#Libraries</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/library-of-congress/" target="_blank">#LibraryOfCongress</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/new-york/" target="_blank">#NewYork</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/politics/" target="_blank">#Politics</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/resistance/" target="_blank">#Resistance</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/retribution/" target="_blank">#Retribution</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/science/" target="_blank">#Science</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/shadow-sources/" target="_blank">#ShadowSources</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/the-new-york-times/" target="_blank">#TheNewYorkTimes</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/trump/" target="_blank">#Trump</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/trump-administration/" target="_blank">#TrumpAdministration</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://drwebdomain.blog/tag/united-states/" target="_blank">#UnitedStates</a></p>
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#retribution
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Kim Perales<p>"NEW: <a href="https://toad.social/tags/ICE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ICE</span></a> is moving to re-arrest Iranians who'd previously been allowed to remain in the US despite orders of removal.</p><p>This woman has been here since 1978 with ZERO problems. She has followed the law the entire time. She was arrested outside her home while gardening."<br>-A Reichlin-Melnick<br>Trump's policies are abominable, they're based on <a href="https://toad.social/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a>, racism, hatred... They're destroying lives & livelihoods.<br><a href="https://toad.social/tags/Iran" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Iran</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Immigrants" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Immigrants</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Detention" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Detention</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Deportations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Deportations</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/DHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DHS</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/RuleOfLaw" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RuleOfLaw</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/DueProcess" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DueProcess</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a></p>
Kim Perales<p>We’re going to see security services deployed more and more against Dem elected officials," says <br>Moira Donegan. </p><p>"To be a Dem official is an illegitimate position under his regime.</p><p>The hostility as constant as breathing really seems to be the model that they’re operating on."</p><p><a href="https://toad.social/tags/Resist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Resist</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Retribution</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Republicans" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Republicans</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/TrumpRegime" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TrumpRegime</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Authoritarianism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Authoritarianism</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Racism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Racism</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Immigrants" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Immigrants</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/DueProcess" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DueProcess</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Protests" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Protests</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/LAProtests" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LAProtests</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/1A" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>1A</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Constitution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Constitution</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Democrats" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Democrats</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/ICE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ICE</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Militarization" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Militarization</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/RuleOfLaw" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RuleOfLaw</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a> <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/196992/transcript-maga-dope-pete-hegseth-implodes-hearing-exposing-trump" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">newrepublic.com/article/196992</span><span class="invisible">/transcript-maga-dope-pete-hegseth-implodes-hearing-exposing-trump</span></a></p>
Kim Perales<p>In 5 months,🚨Trump's succeeded in destroying America (*the economy is at the precipice of <a href="https://toad.social/tags/recession" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>recession</span></a>) for <a href="https://toad.social/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a>. He's used govt powers to target his perceived enemies, not just Biden & the ppl who've criticized or investigated him; his new targets, since this article was pub: anyone who tries to impede the <a href="https://toad.social/tags/kleptocracy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>kleptocracy</span></a> & his dystopian, racist agenda.</p><p>He's moved aggressively against political opponents, news orgs, fmr govt officials, univs, judges, law f...<br><a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5327518/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-53275</span><span class="invisible">18/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats</span></a></p>
Janet Logan (she/her) 🏳️⚧️<p>Brad Lander's Arrest: Retribution or Lawful Action? </p><p><a href="https://janetannelogan.com/2025/06/18/brad-landers-arrest-retribution-or-lawful-action/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">janetannelogan.com/2025/06/18/</span><span class="invisible">brad-landers-arrest-retribution-or-lawful-action/</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://mas.to/tags/DHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DHS</span></a>, <a href="https://mas.to/tags/DonaldTrump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DonaldTrump</span></a>, <a href="https://mas.to/tags/ICE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ICE</span></a>, <a href="https://mas.to/tags/KristiNoem" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>KristiNoem</span></a>, <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Politics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Politics</span></a>, <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Retribution</span></a>, <a href="https://mas.to/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a>, <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Reblog" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Reblog</span></a>, <a href="https://mas.to/tags/EmptyWheel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EmptyWheel</span></a> </p><p><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@emptywheel" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>emptywheel</span></a></span></p>
Tiffany E. Taylor<p><a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lesficfri" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lesficfri</span></a><br>*** SMELL ***<br>“Tiffany E. Taylor has created a group of butch/femme heroes whom I wish really did walk the streets.”<br><a href="https://www.tiffanyetaylor.com/whimsical-fire" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">tiffanyetaylor.com/whimsical-f</span><span class="invisible">ire</span></a></p><p><a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/romanticsuspense" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>romanticsuspense</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/touchheranddie" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>touchheranddie</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/hateobsession" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>hateobsession</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/dangerinperil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>dangerinperil</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/bodyguardsecurity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bodyguardsecurity</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/arttherapist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>arttherapist</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/butchfemme" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>butchfemme</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lesfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lesfic</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/sapphicbooks" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sapphicbooks</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/bookstodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bookstodon</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/readingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>readingcommunity</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lesbian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lesbian</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lgbtq" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lgbtq</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lgbtqia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lgbtqia</span></a><br><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/lgbtqbookstodon" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>lgbtqbookstodon</span></a></span> <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/bookstodon" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>bookstodon</span></a></span> <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/sapphicbooks" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>sapphicbooks</span></a></span></p>
Kim Perales<p>"Former FBI agents are worried the Bureau will be used to place informants near Trump’s “enemies.”</p><p>E.g. universities, media, Dem officials, critical fmr aides.</p><p>That'd be a chilling🚨abuse of power. Echoes of the Stasi in E Germany.</p><p>This agenda🚨of <a href="https://toad.social/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> has defined the early days of the 2nd Trump admin."<br>-M Taylor, today on X</p><p>"The list🚨of targets (4/29/25) exceeds 100, acc to NPR's review: some of the US' most prominent Dem pols, INTL students, judges....<br><a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5327518/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-53275</span><span class="invisible">18/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats</span></a></p>
Kim Perales<p>"Yikes.🚨2 days after Payan testified at a preliminary injunction hearing--challenging a major fed surveillance rule: <a href="https://toad.social/tags/IRS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IRS</span></a> sent an audit notice to his bus. Andy's gas station is one of 100s of bus' along the border that's been ordered to report cash transactions over just $200 to the fed govt. It's an unprecedented FIN <a href="https://toad.social/tags/surveillance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>surveillance</span></a> program.</p><p>After a hearing, where Andy was a witness, a fed judge entered a preliminary injunction *order likely violates: 4A."<br>-R Johnson<br><a href="https://toad.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Retribution</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a></p>
Nonilex<p>An accompanying *fact* sheet for <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a>’s <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/ExecutiveOrder" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ExecutiveOrder</span></a> cited the claim that <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/NPR" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NPR</span></a> published articles “insist[ing] that COVID-19 did not originate in a lab” & “refused to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story.”</p><p>NPR's Maher rejected such ideological characterizations, pointing to such statements by Trump to argue he was seeking to exact illegal <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> for their <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/news" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>news</span></a> coverage.</p><p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/law" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>law</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Constitution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Constitution</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/FirstAmendment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FirstAmendment</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/FreeSpeech" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FreeSpeech</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/FreePress" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FreePress</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/democracy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>democracy</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Congress" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Congress</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/SeparationOfPowers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SeparationOfPowers</span></a></p>
Kim Perales<p>“Trump pardon attorney taking “hard look” at defendants convicted of plotting to kidnap Gov Whitmer. The effort to rewrite history & normalize political <a href="https://toad.social/tags/violence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>violence</span></a> continues.”<br>-B McQuade</p><p>“So far Trump has released cop assailants, adjudged terrorists, (apparently) some murderers to use in a rendition stunt, & now people who planned to kidnap Trump's political opponents.</p><p>How is it that this is not a 24/7 story?”<br>-M Wheeler</p><p>Amplify‼️<br><a href="https://toad.social/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Lawlessness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Lawlessness</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Retribution</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a><br><a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/23/justice-department-michigan-governor-whitmer-kidnapping-plot/83825764007/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">detroitnews.com/story/news/pol</span><span class="invisible">itics/2025/05/23/justice-department-michigan-governor-whitmer-kidnapping-plot/83825764007/</span></a></p>
Nonilex<p>Last night, in the lawsuit brought by <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/FBI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FBI</span></a> agents who worked on <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Jan6" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Jan6</span></a> investigations, seeking to prevent their names from being disclosed for fear of <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> & physical <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/threats" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>threats</span></a> from <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/MAGA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MAGA</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/extremists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>extremists</span></a>, the plaintiffs alerted Judge Cobb of the press conference by disgraced fmr acting <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/DC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DC</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/USattorney" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USattorney</span></a>, current <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/DOJ" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DOJ</span></a> Weaponization "captain" & under <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/DCbar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DCbar</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/ethics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ethics</span></a> probe <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/EdMartin" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EdMartin</span></a> who pledged: "We will name them."</p><p><a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25944249-51-notice-re-ed-martin/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">documentcloud.org/documents/25</span><span class="invisible">944249-51-notice-re-ed-martin/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/law" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>law</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/insurrection" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>insurrection</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/RevengePolitics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RevengePolitics</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a></p>
Nonilex<p>The <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/NIC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NIC</span></a> is the top US <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/intelligence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>intelligence</span></a> community body for analyzing <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/classified" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>classified</span></a> intelligence & providing secret assessments to the president & other top policymakers. Its reports include <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/spy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>spy</span></a> agencies’ annual global threat assessment & studies of the possible causes of anomalous <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/health" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>health</span></a> incidents, also known as <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/HavanaSyndrome" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>HavanaSyndrome</span></a>, & the origins of the <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/coronavirus" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>coronavirus</span></a> that led to the <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/pandemic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>pandemic</span></a> in 2020.</p><p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/ConspiracyTheories" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ConspiracyTheories</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/law" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>law</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/immigration" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>immigration</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/AlienEnemiesAct" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AlienEnemiesAct</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/FactCheck" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FactCheck</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/TrumpLies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TrumpLies</span></a></p>
Kim Perales<p>“DHS confirms to Axios that they are considering arresting Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver and Rob Menendez.</p><p>Watson Coleman's office says they reviewed the body cam footage and that it proves "nobody 'assaulted' any agents."</p><p>Every day, Trump finds new targets, so he can stay in the spotlight,& sic “his AG & the DOJ on them with trumped-up charges. </p><p><a href="https://toad.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/DOJ" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DOJ</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/DHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DHS</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/ICE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ICE</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Nazis" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Nazis</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Retribution</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Resist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Resist</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Laws" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Laws</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Intimidation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Intimidation</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/10/trump-ice-arrest-house-democrats-new-jersey" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">axios.com/2025/05/10/trump-ice</span><span class="invisible">-arrest-house-democrats-new-jersey</span></a></p>
Tony 💉x9 🇦🇺<p>At least she tried to stop <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> by proving he is a criminal. It should have been Merrick Garland's job. 🙁 </p><p>The fact that she is both black and female means that an indictment and a prison sentence will come swiftly, and the American public will just assume she is guilty because <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> says so. :eyeroll: </p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/08/trump-fbi-investigation-letitia-james" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">theguardian.com/us-news/2025/m</span><span class="invisible">ay/08/trump-fbi-investigation-letitia-james</span></a></p><p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trumpland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trumpland</span></a> <br><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/American" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>American</span></a><br><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/juripurdence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>juripurdence</span></a> <br><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/ruleByLaw" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ruleByLaw</span></a><br><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/MerrickGarland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MerrickGarland</span></a><br><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> <br><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/silence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>silence</span></a></p>
Nonilex<p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/GiftArticle" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GiftArticle</span></a></p><p>“When citizens must think twice about criticizing or opposing the government because they could credibly face govt <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a>, they no longer live in a full <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/democracy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>democracy</span></a>.</p><p>“By that measure, <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/America" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>America</span></a> has crossed the line into competitive <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/authoritarianism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>authoritarianism</span></a>. The <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> administration’s <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/WeaponizationOfGovernment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WeaponizationOfGovernment</span></a> agencies & flurry of punitive actions against critics has raised the cost of opposition for a wide range of Americans.”</p><p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/law" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>law</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/USpol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USpol</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/AmericanAutocracy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AmericanAutocracy</span></a><br><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/opinion/trump-authoritarianism-democracy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Fk8.FdrP.pvuxCrXOS6Fj&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">nytimes.com/2025/05/08/opinion</span><span class="invisible">/trump-authoritarianism-democracy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Fk8.FdrP.pvuxCrXOS6Fj&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare</span></a></p>
Kim Perales<p>Trump Suggests Rs Start Expelling Dems From Congress. Homan implied: the admin may also target state & local lawmakers who protect migrant communities.</p><p>While no MOC has yet been charged by Trump’s admin, the WH seems to be getting comfortable with🚨using the DOJ to retaliate or make an example of pol rivals. The FBI last week arrested Judge Dugan +launched an investigation into Chris Krebs.</p><p><a href="https://toad.social/tags/GeneralStrike" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GeneralStrike</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Retribution</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Deportations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Deportations</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/DHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DHS</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/ICE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ICE</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/Republicans" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Republicans</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-suggests-republicans-expelling-democrats-congress-1235330361/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">rollingstone.com/politics/poli</span><span class="invisible">tics-news/trump-suggests-republicans-expelling-democrats-congress-1235330361/</span></a></p>
Nonilex<p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> fired head archivist Colleen Shogan in early Feb in an apparent act of <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> against the <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/NARA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NARA</span></a>. Leaders of the agency had raised concerns about Trump’s holding onto boxes of <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/classified" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>classified</span></a> documents at his home in Florida after he left office in 2021, though Shogan was not involved in that episode.</p><p>4 days before Shogan’s firing, <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Rubio" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Rubio</span></a> announced he was the acting administrator for <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/USAID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USAID</span></a>, as <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/ElonMusk" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ElonMusk</span></a> …& <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/PeteMarocco" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PeteMarocco</span></a>, a political appointee in the <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/State" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>State</span></a> Dept, were gutting the agency.</p>
Nonilex<p>How <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> is [ab]using government <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/power" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>power</span></a> to target his *enemies* </p><p>In the first 100 days of his 2nd term, Trump has moved aggressively to fulfill his promise of <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> against an extraordinary range of individuals & organizations, targeting <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/political" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>political</span></a> opponents, <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/news" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>news</span></a> organizations, former <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/government" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>government</span></a> officials, <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/universities" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>universities</span></a>, <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/international" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>international</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/student" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>student</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/protesters" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>protesters</span></a> & <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/LawFirms" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LawFirms</span></a>.</p><p><a href="https://masto.ai/tags/law" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>law</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/RevengePolitics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RevengePolitics</span></a> <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/AbuseOfPower" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AbuseOfPower</span></a> <br><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5327518/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-53275</span><span class="invisible">18/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats</span></a></p>
Kim Perales<p>"Georgetown Law students made a 853-row spreadsheet of Trump-caving firms -drew nat HLs. Recruiters noticed some talent looked elsewhere. Firms lobbied to change their designation.</p><p>After Trump signed EOs singling out law firms for pol <a href="https://toad.social/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a>, the students recorded BigLaw’s responses in a doc: “Legal IDU Responses to Fascist Attacks Tracker.”</p><p>Currently: names >800 firms, assigning them to 1of 5 categories:⚡“Caved to Admin,” “Complying in Advance"...<br><a href="https://toad.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a> <a href="https://toad.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a><br><a href="https://www.allrisenews.com/p/skadden-students-georgetown" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">allrisenews.com/p/skadden-stud</span><span class="invisible">ents-georgetown</span></a></p>
Tiffany E. Taylor<p><a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lesficfri" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lesficfri</span></a><br>*** STARE ***<br>“If you love badass alpha butches, how about nine of them?”<br><a href="https://www.tiffanyetaylor.com/whimsical-fire" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">tiffanyetaylor.com/whimsical-f</span><span class="invisible">ire</span></a></p><p><a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/romanticsuspense" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>romanticsuspense</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/touchheranddie" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>touchheranddie</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/dangerinperil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>dangerinperil</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/hateobsession" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>hateobsession</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/retribution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>retribution</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/butchfemme" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>butchfemme</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lesfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lesfic</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/sapphicbooks" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sapphicbooks</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/bookstodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bookstodon</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writingcommunity</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lesbian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lesbian</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lgbtq" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lgbtq</span></a> <a href="https://poweredbygay.social/tags/lgbtqia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lgbtqia</span></a><br><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/lgbtqbookstodon" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>lgbtqbookstodon</span></a></span> <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/bookstodon" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>bookstodon</span></a></span> <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/sapphicbooks" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>sapphicbooks</span></a></span></p>
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